Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-01
CHAPTER XXXV.

CHAPTER AAAh'
e'Not another mile with our horses till
they're rested and fed-not another mile,
or when we do oveTtake any one they Will
be so unfit for action that Wen be Grip
pied out and out!" said Major Ben, in an
swer to his two companions, Paul and
Delorme, as he neaTed the very range of
timber from which LagOna had not been
gone more than three or four hours-tor
the brands of mis- little fire were yet smok-
ing. For they were urging him to keep
upon the evidently freshening trail with
out hating.
"We're gaining-here's fire yeti" cried
he, as he Ieaped from his horse, which,
loosened, went at once to the water.
"She has been here-she has been
here!" shouted Paul, as he picked up
from the bank shred of her lace-fringed
dress. which she had torn off and lett
there.
eyes, and another woman and an In
dian. Here is q bona fide mOCCasin
track" said Ben, whose keen eyes were
running over the ground as if it were
picture. "But though there are three OF
them. there are the tracks of only two
horses. I see-one carried double; his
track sinks twice as deep in the ground
as the other; and here is some of his hair
on this mesquite bush-it is white".
'Lagona has got her!" said both Mr..
Delorme and Paul, as they heard these
words
"Yes-likelv, for this trail now heads
straight for the Rio Pecos, and there the
Comanches generally lie IN the greatest
numbers. Some Of their most impreg-
nable strongholds are in the Charrate
Hills. If he gets there it will be next to
impossible to do anything with my small
force"
"Let US press on without delay-they
can only be q few miles ahead OF US! -
urged Paul.
"Young man, when you've lived as long
as l have, and traIled as many redskins
as my mothers only son has, you'll learn
that sometimes the greatest haste goes
the least distance. Our horses need rest
and food-were we to go on now they
would be knocked up and give out
in four or FIVE miles further. But give
them two hours rest and feed and they're
good for run of thirty or forty miles
vet. Take my example; off saddles from
your beasts, then eat something and
smoke the pipe of patience for a while"
at is hard to smoke that which
haven't got, but you know best, ma or
of goes my saddle" said Paul.
"And mine-mUch as l desire to press
on. The experience of the major is our
only stav," added Mr.. DelOrme.
The horses were soon feasting amid the
grass, ana Mccullough, having stirred up
the fire and added fuel, was making tin
cup of hot coffee and brOiling a slice of
bacon for his breakfast in very short
time.
The planter and Paul, urged to follow
his. example, did so-more from desire
to sustain their strength than from any
appetite which they felt; their eagerness
and anxiety destroyed all of that
And though the gallant chief of the
Rangers took things very quietly he too
was full as anxious as they to renew the
chase and watched the animals as they
fed, to see when they showed sufficient
signs of returning vigOr to make it
prudent to ressddle them.
After his scanty meal and the never-to-
be-forgOtten pipe of camp life, the major
climbed one Of the talleSt trees, in hopes
that from his perch he could distinguish
further traces; but when he came down
he shook his head, indicating thereby that
he had seen nothing of the fugitives or
the captive.
But little over two hours had elapsed
before they were again in the saddle, and
their nettled horses at once showed the
immense benefit of even the temporary
rest and refreshment of water and grass
which they had received; for without
urging severely they dashed along the
trail upon rapid gallop.
"This is something like!" cried Major
Ben, as his eyes frightened and his cheeks
flushed again. "There's nothing like feel
ing that the horse under you can go on
without breaking his neert st every Jump
We three are good for thirty Comanches
now on the prairie or in the bush Two
hours and half ago ten of 'em could
have given US bad shake for our hair!''
"What's that? Another piece of Stells's
dress, as sure as l ive!" cried Paul,
snatching up the precious fragment from
the top of the tall grass, whereon 1t had
lodged.
"The young lady is cool and seems to
feel or know that we're on their trail ~
said Major Ben. "That will work well
for US, for she'll be ready to take advant-
age of any chances that offer in the way
of escape or otherW Sc"
"Perhaps they have seen u.s." said
Paul.
''No-their pace has in no way incress>
ed any from the start, as far as l can see
but their horses Jump shorter as they go
on. The horse that carries double must
be good one, but he is tired. have
seen three or four places where he has
stumbled. Nothing but weakness will
ever make prairie horse stumble"
"Whst is that blue streak far, far away
70 the West?n asked Mr.. Delorme.
"The Chsrrate Hills, sir" replied the
Major. 'If the fellows we are after are
in cohOrt with the COmanches and once get
there, our chances for q good fight are
tiptop As 10 how We'll come out is an
other question:"
"Ilpray to Heaven we may overtake them
this side Of there!" said Paul.
ppm not much OF prayin' character
never prayed but once ia my life, and that
was when had q toothache-but I'll say
amen 10 that, Master Paul" said the
Major, In his dry way. "I'd give twenty
head Of horses 10 catch 'em on the open
plain. Ifmy boys didn't tan 'em out in
lees than no time, I'd agree 10 eat mud or
chaW sand Ike Georgia cracker!"
Thus, for several hours, the trio dashed
On-the gtid bluc outline Of the flr-of
hills growing more broken as they adj
yanccd, ard the top Of range Of timber
also beginning 20 show.
"Thal timber IL on the Pccos river"
said the Ranger, pointing 20 it, "and
shouldn't wonder If they csmped there
tonight. II they do, some Of 'om may
wake up IN the kingdom cone, without
known who It vas that sent 'cm there!"
"What speckg arc those of 10 the
righti" asked Paul, whose anxious and
syer-wendehng eye had detected some
moving objects ia the direction in which
hs named.
"Hslt, and don't move, horse or man,
tlll sect" EAid the Major, quickly. And